Loose leaf binder



y 193% E. F. BUENGER ET AL, 1,957,039

LOOSE LEAF B INDER Filed March 20, 1955 mm Y. W W m E Mg m 5 A 6 D 7 WPam fi Fatented May 1, 1934 iQE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Edward F. Buenger,

022k Park, and Fred D.

Wedge, Lombard, llllL, assignors to Wilson-Jones Company, (Jhicago, Illchusetts Application March 20,

11 Claims.

Ihis invention relates to a loose leaf binder having an easel structureadapted to support the binder at an angle so that the contents of thebinder may be displayed to the best possible advantage.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder with aneasel structure capable of supporting the binder at any desired angularposition. It is a further object of this invention to provide an easelstructure which may be readily opened and closed and which, when closed,w ll not detract from the appearance of the binder. It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide an easel support for loose leafbinders which will be economical to manufacture and will be simple andefficient in operation. Other objects or" this invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the rear of a loose leaf binderembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view sirm'lar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of theinvention;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the binder show- 1 'ing the easel inclosed position;

Figure 4 is an end elevation showing the binder and easel in closedposition; and

Figure 5 is a detail perspective of the free end of the easel member.

In the drawing the reference numeral 2 indicates a back member to whicha conventional ring metal 3 is secured in any suitable manner. The ringmetal includes a plurality of divided rings 4. which. are adapted toretain the contents of the lbinder. A pair of relatively short flanges5, 6

extend along the longitudinal edges of the back member 2. A pair ofcovers 7, 8 are hingedly se cured to the outer edges of the flanges 5,6.

The easel support consists of two metal plates "9, 10, the combinedlength of which equals the length of the back member 2. The member 9 isprovided along its lon itudinal edges with a pair of flanges ll, 12which project a short distance beyond one end of the member 9. A pair offlanges l3, 14 extending along the longitudinal edges of the member 10are pivotally secured to the projecting portions of the flanges ll, 12,respectively, by means of rivets 15. The flanges 13, 1d are pivotallysecured to the bottom ends of the flanges 5, 6, respectively by means ofa pin 16. If desired, two pins, one for each connection, may besubstituted for the single pin 16. The flanges ll, 12, 13, 14 are eachequal in height to the flanges 5, 6. Accordingly, when the easel supportis in closed position, the metal plate mema corporation of Massa- 1933,Serial No. 661,674

bers 9 and 10 will lie flush with the back of the binder. The easelsupport is preferably covered with fabric similar to that of the covers7, 8 so that it will look like an integral part of the binding when thebinder is closed.

The metal plate members 9 and 10 are substan tially the same width asthe back member 2 so that the easel will fit snugly between the flanges5, 6. Each flange 11, 12 may be flared outwardly to a slightrespectively, at its free end to provide increased frictional contactbetween the easel and the binder. The flared portions 17, 18 are adaptedto hold the easel in any desired position between the flanges 5, 6 andyet permit relative sliding movement between the easel and the binderback. A plurality of ratchet tooth projections 19 are provided on theback member 2 to co-operate with the free end of the plate 9 to providepositive stops for the easel support.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, theflanges 20 on each side of the back member 2 are provided with grooves21 in which the ends of a pin 22 are adapted to slide. The pin 22 issecured to the free ends of the flanges 23, 24 which are similar to theflanges l1, 12. In this modification it is obviously unnecessary toflare the ends of the flanges 23, 24 because the top end of the easelcannot be sepa rated from the flanges 20.

The operation of the easel support for the binder is extremely simple.When the easel is in closed position, the binder appears to be anordinary loose leaf binder and may be used as such. When it is desiredto support the binder at any angle, the top end of the metal platemember 9 is moved down towards fixed end of the metal plate member 10until the desired angular position of the member 10 is attained. Thenwhen the covers of the binder are opened, the binder is adapted tosupport itself on any suitable surface. When it is desired to close theeasel structure, the top edge of the plate 9 must be moved outwardly asufiicient distance to clear the projections 19 on the back member. Theported in opened position by the easel structure described possessesiuiusual stability because both ends of the easel are in contact withthe back member and the entire surface area of the metal plate 10 is incontact with the surface on which the binder rests.

While we have described our invention in detail, it will be understoodthat the description thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, asmany details may be modified or changed withextent, as indicated at 17,18, (Figure 5) c5 binder, when sup- 3 out departing from the spirit orscope of our invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restrictedto the exact construction described except as limited by the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members, a back member offsetinwardly of the rear edges of said cover members, and an easel memberfitting between said cover members.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of cover members havingtheir rear edges projecting beyond the edges of said back member, and aneasel member connected to said back member and having its outer facesubstantially flush with the rear edges of said cover members.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extendingalong the longitudinal edges of said back member, and an easel membersecured to said flanges and terminating in the plane of the outer edgesof said flanges.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a plurality of projections onsaid back member, and an easel member having one end fixed adjacent oneend of said back and having its other end adapted to cooperate with saidprojections to support the binder in several positions.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, an easel member fitting snuglyagainst said back member and fixed thereto at one end, said easel havingits other end slidable in contact with said back member, and means onsaid back member forming a positive stop for said slidable end of saideasel member.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extending atan angle from the longitudinal edges of said back member, and an easelmember provided with flanges on its longitudinal edges secured to saidfirst mentioned flanges, the

flanges of said easel member being flared outwardly adjacent one endthereof to increase the frictional contact between said easel member andsaid first mentioned flanges.

'7. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, and an easel member havingone end pivotally secured to said back member and its other end slidablysecured to said back section.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extendingalong the longitudinal edges of said back member, and an easel memberhav ing one end pivotally secured to said flanges and its other endslidable between said flanges.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extendingalong the longitudinal edges of said back member, an easel member havingone end secured to said flanges, the other end of said easel memberbeing slidable in contact with said back member, and means on said backmember for holding said easel member from accidental sliding movement.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extendingalong the longitudinal edges of said back member. and an easel membersecured at one end to said flanges, said easel memser comprising twosections pivotally connected at their adjoining edges, the free end ofsaid easel member being slidable between said flanges.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of flanges extendingalong the longitudinal edges of said back member, and an easel membersecured at one end to said flange said easel member comprising twosections pivotally connected at their adjoining edges, the outer surfaceof said sections lying flush with the outer edges of said flanges whensaid easel member is closed.

EDWARD F. BUENGER. FRED D. WEDGE.

